Our enemies are God’s enemies, and He is an active and aggressive Mighty Warrior against them.
We face an enemy that has already lost the war but won’t concede without a fierce fight. Many of the Psalms could appropriately be called “Battle Psalms.” It was not by accident that the most excellent worshiper in the Bible was also the most successful warrior. David focused on praise in one of the great spiritual warfare passages in the Scriptures.
“Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues peoples under me.” Psalm 144:1-2
Throughout His history of dealing with His people, God asserted that the battle is the Lord’s. Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).
David gave God all the credit for His defense. “With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish” (Psalm 44:1-2). Generations later, God was still reassuring His faithless people, “Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them, not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God” (Hosea 1:7). In all ages, the purpose of battle is always to exalt the Lord and to cause us to draw near to Him, to see His glory, to praise Him for His victory. In fact, the psalmist prayed for God not to take away all his enemies, lest the people forget their God (Psalm 59:11).
O that we would not be fainthearted when God has provided Himself as our El Gibbor, the mighty God; the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; El Shaddai, almighty God; the Lord our defense; the Lord our deliverer; Jehovah Sabaoth, the Captain of the Lord’s heavenly armies. Isaiah said, “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you’ “(Isaiah 35:2-4 NKJV).
Take God’s Word to heart for your defense and victory as a vital part of the whole armour of God. It is the sword of the Spirit that is ever-ready in the mighty hand of God.
By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission
From: Prayer Essentials For Living In His Presence,
Vol 1, page 260-261. © 2000 Sylvia Gunter
Further Reading
• When You Can’t Find an Answer
• Suffering – Spiritual principles to meditate on during hard times
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